SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Crookston Public Schools and the Crookston Pirate Activities Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the induction class for the 2026-2027 Crookston Pirate Activities Hall of Fame.
This year’s class recognizes individuals whose accomplishments, leadership, dedication, and impact have left a lasting legacy on Crookston activities and athletics.
The 2026-2027 inductees include:
- Erika Wheelhouse
- Marlee Wheelhouse Westrum
- Travis Ross
- Chris Fee
- Greg Garmen
These individuals have made significant contributions to Crookston Pirate activities through athletic achievement, coaching, leadership, service, and support of student activities throughout the years.
“We are excited to honor this outstanding group of inductees and celebrate the positive impact they have had on Crookston Public Schools and Pirate activities,” said Activities Director Evan Pederson. “Their dedication and commitment have helped shape the proud tradition of Pirate athletics and activities.” Our induction ceremony will be on August 15th at Crookston High School Commons.
Additional information regarding the Hall of Fame ceremony, including event details, will be announced at a later time.
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The Section 8A Track and Field meet will be held at Mahnomen on Friday. I have broken down each event by the top two results coming in and where the Crookston kids are in each event! I also listed a link to all the entries for each event below.
The top two placers from each event will make it to the Minnesota State High School League State Track and Field meet at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
100 METERS GIRLS –
1. Katrina Hitchen (Fer-Bel) 13.04
2. Azariah Ogundeji (Nevis) 12.23
100 METERS BOYS –
1. Leif Shervey (UCB) 11.09
2. Raydon Woinarowicz (WM) 11.61
100 METERS WHEELCHAIR
1. Alex Gullingsrud (RLC) 24.25
2. Ethan Avritt (PR) 2:45.26
200 METERS GIRLS
1. Kenley Marquis (WM) 26/36
2. Indigo Oistad (Fer-Bel) 27.23
200 METERS BOYS
1. Leif Shervey (UCB) 22.84
2. Brydin Daniel (Bag-Fos) 23.18
3. Aaron Gosse (Crookston) 23.97
400 METERS GIRLS
1. Katrina Hitchen (Fer-Bel) 59.44
2. Annika Aakre (PC) 1:00.07
400 METERS BOYS
1. Evan Schenck (UCB) 52.13
2. Ethan Proulx (Bag/Fos) 52.91
800 METERS GIRLS
1. Allison Lundin (NKB) 2:24.35
2. Hannah Fonder (Bag/Fos) 2:25.34
800 METERS BOYS
1. Asher Munstenteiger (Ros) 2:04.28
2. John Forrest (LOW) 2:05.87
800 METERS WHEELCHAIR –
1. Alex Gullingsrud (RLC) 3:01.21
1600 METERS GIRLS
1. Emelia Arntson (CFSH) 5:27.26
2. Ella Arntson (CFSH) 5:33.51
1600 METERS BOYS
1. Asher Bervig (PR) 4:41.16
2. Doot Boucha (War) 4:46.80
1600 METERS WHEELCHAIR
1. Alex Gullingsrud (RLC) 6:25.87
3200 METERS GIRLS
1. Emelia Arntson (CFSH) 11:35.81
2. Kaylee Nelson (Fer-Bel) 11:52.87
3200 METERS BOYS
1. Christian Thorson (PR) 9:44.43
2. Jack Mitteness (PR) 9:59.38
100 METER HURDLES GIRLS
1. Kaylee Pieper (LOW) 16.98
2. Taylor Henry (NKB) 17.33
110 METER HURDLES BOYS
1. Samuel Olson (UCB) 16.44
2. Sammy Durand (WM) 16.46
300 METER HURDLES GIRLS
1. Crace Officer (PR) 46.29
2. Annika Adolphson (WM) 47.50
13. Alle Kollin (Crookston) 52.94
300 METER HURDLES BOYS
1. Christian Daoheuang (War) 41.93
2. Samuel Olson (UCB) 42.54
4×100 RELAY GIRLS
1. West Marshall (Kenley Marquis, Naomi Davey, Annika Adolphson, Markelle Pederson) 50.50
2. Park Rapids (Breanna Deblieck, Avery Schueller, Cassidy Grewe, Grace Officer) 51.29
6. Crookston (Chloe Boll, Bridget Groven, Brooklyn Waldal, Morgan Boll) 53.72
4×100 RELAY BOYS
1. Park Rapids (Jaydon Walen, Corbin Schiller, Carter Hirt, Parker Hunter) 44.03
2. Park Christian (Isaac Jacobson, Zaden Giese, David Pettys, Logan Giese) 44.76
6. Crookston (Gavin Reitmeier, Cade Wisk, Masen Lessard, Aaron Gosse) 46.67
4×200 RELAY GIRLS
1. West Marshall (Kenley Marquis, Naomi Davey, Annika Adolphson, Markelle Pederson) 1:46.44
2. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (Josie Holly, Delaney Collins, Brittan Young, Emma Landreville) 1:51.16
4×200 RELAY BOYS
1. United Clay-Becker (Evan Schenck, Matthew Shervey, Jackson Kastel, Leif Shervey) 1:32.31
2. Park Rapids (Jaydeon Walen, Kaden Gartner, Carter Hirt, Parker Hunter) 1:33.58
7. Crookston (Gavin Reitmeier, Cade Wisk, Masen Lessard, Aaron Gosse) 1:37.17
4×400 RELAY GIRLS
1. Park Rapids (Cassidy Grewe, Madeline Brandt, Grace Etter, Grace Officer) 4:08.91
2. Fertile-Beltrami (Jordyn Rasch, Indigo Oistad, Sofie Grunhovd, Katrina Hitchen) 4:11.83
4×400 RELAY BOYS
1. Park Rapids (Parker Hunter, Carter Hirt, Brayden Price, Kaden Gartner) 3:29.95
2. Bagley/Fosston (Brydin Daniel, Gage Gray, William Strandberg, Ethan Proulx) 3:30.19
4×800 RELAY GIRLS
1. United Clay-Becker (Kenra Nelson, Rachel Swan, Chloe Johnson, Katarina Vetter) 10:09.43
2. Roseau (Audrey Hayden, Anna Ulvin, Lauren Olson, Josephine Hinson) 10:111.95
8. Crookston (Hallie Perry, Keatyn Kliner, ZiiZi Sam, Alle Kollin) 10:52.20
4×800 RELAY BOYS
1. Park Rapids (Christian Thorson, Asher Bervig, Cesar Quizan Gutierrez, Kaden Gartner) 8:18.75
2. Roseau (Van Munstenteiger, Dietich Olson, Broy Kaprowicz, Asher Munstenteiger) 8>39.80
SHOT PUT GIRLS
1. Aria Garrett (DGF) 38-0
2. Emily Marquis (WM) 37-2
SHOT PUT BOYS
1. Ayden Peterson (ABW) 44-10.5
2. Logan Giese (PC) 44-8.25
DISCUS GIRLS
1. Emily Marquis (WM) 137-3
2. Aria Garrett (DGF) 129-6
DISCUS BOYS
1. Myles Kroschus (ABW) 138-1
2. Mason Tysver (DGF) 132-4
DISCUS WHEELCHAIR
1. Alex Gullingsrud (RLC) 40-6
HIGH JUMP GIRLS
1. Annika Aakre (PC) 5-5
2. Kaydence White (KCC) 5-3
HIGH JUMP BOYS
1. Isaac Jacobson (PC) 6-4
2. Caden Pagnac (WM) 6-4
POLE VAULT GIRLS
1. Sofie Grunhovd (Fer-Bel) 9-8
1. Markelle Pederson (WM) 9-8
3. Chloe Boll (Crookston) 9-2
5. Morgan Boll (Crookston) 8-2
POLE VAULT BOYS
1. Hayden Rettke (WHA) 13-4
2. Eli Phrankonkham (Bag-Fos) 11-10
2. Makoti Weber (Crookston) 11-10
2. Noah Dvorak (Crookston) 11-10
LONG JUMP GIRLS
1. Azariah Ogundeji (Nevis) 17-4.75
2. Kylie Snare (BGMR/Freeze) 17-1.5
9. Chloe Boll (Crookston) 15-4.25
15. Kambree Wangen (Crookston) 14-3.25
LONG JUMP BOYS
1. Caden Pagnac (WM) 21-1.75
2. Isaac Jacobson (PC) 20-9
14. Masen Lessard (Crookston) 18-11.5
TRIPLE JUMP GIRLS
1. Ellis Sosa (DGF) 35-0.5
2. Hatty Quam (Bag/Fos) 33-3
TRIPLE JUMP BOYS
1. Bridger Weekley (PC) 42-3
2. Ethan Whitaker (WHA) 41-9
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The Section 8A Softball tournament wraps up today (Thursday) with a familiar matchup. Red Lake Falls takes on BGMR. Red Lake Falls beat the Gators in the semi-finals 2-0 and you can expect the game at 4:00 p.m. today will be more of the same. If Red Lake Falls wins, they advance to the State tournament in Mankato on Tuesday. If BGMR wins, there will be a true championship game right after.
I am predicting a RLF 5-0 victory and they will go back to state.
This years MSHSL State Softball tournament will be June 2, 3, and 4, with the Championships being played on June 5.
The first round games will be played on Tuesday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Mankato’s Caswell Park. If you win the first round, the semi-finals are on June 3 at 4:30 p.m. and the Championship is on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
If you lose the first round, you play at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3 at Caswell Park.
3rd place is on Thursday, June 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Caswell Park.
Consolation Championship is on June 4 at 11:30 AM at Caswell Park.
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The Section 8AA Softball tournament is down to the final three teams. Roseau stumbled earlier in the playoffs, but have looked good since. WDC had a big win to get to the semi-finals, but DGF seems like they might be a little too much right now. I am predicting a Roseau vs DGF championship game.
THURSDAY – May 28 (at Neutral Field)
3:00 PM – Losers bracket game – Roseau vs Wadena-Deer Creek
5:00 PM – Championship – DGF vs Roseau/WDC winner
FRIDAY – MAY 29 (at Neutral Field)
10:00 AM – True championship if needed
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The Section 8A Golf tournament was held earlier this week at Bemidji Town and Country Club.
Mahnomen/Waubun won the boys tournament, and how about this stat –
Mahnomen/Waubun Thunderbird boys golf team as they captured the Section 8A title today! They shot a 654, 13 strokes better than BGMR.
1. Mahnomen-Waubun – 654
2. BGMR – 667
3. West Marshall – 706
4. Red Lake County – 720
5. Fosston – 726
Individuals advancing to state besides the Mahnomen/Waubun team –
1. Tyler Grinsteiner (BGMR) 149
2. Hunter Doyea (Fertile-Beltrami) 157
3. Gavin Aakhus (Fertile-BeltramI) 158
4. James Palmer (Bagley) 162
5. Tryg Olson (BGMR) 164
The Thunderbirds Blake McMullen will make his 11th state tournament appearance with the state golf. He has played in the following state tournaments-
Football – 4
Wrestling – 3
Golf – 4
The Section 8A Girls Golf champions are the Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators with a 720, 35 strokes better than Mahnomen/Waubun.
1. BGMR – 720
2. Mahnomen/Waubun – 755
3. Fertile-Beltrami 771
4. Fosston – 861
Individuals advancing to state along with all the BGMR golfers-
1. Macy Petry (Fertile-Beltrami) 159
2. Isabella Schlick (MW) 181
3. Leah Hlubek (MW) 185
4. Evelyn Sperle (Riverside Christian) 190
5. McKenna Bjerk (MW) 192
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The Section 8AA Boys and Girls Golf Tournament will be on June 1 and 2 at Bemidji Town and Country Club.
Boys Teams competing are – Detroit Lakes, Hawley, Fergus Falls, East Grand Forks, Roseau, and Warroad.
Girls teams competing are – Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, DGF, Roseau, Crookston, East Grand Forks.
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The Section 8A Baseball Tournament Section 8A Tournament – Sub-Section Semi’s & Finals
North Sub-Section at East Grand Forks Stauss Park
10:00 AM – Red Lake County vs West Marshall ON KROX 9:30 AM
12:30 PM – Ada-Borup-West vs Sacred Heart ON KROX after RLC/WM game
3:00 PM – Winners Play
5:30 PM – Losers Play ON KROX RADIO after Section 8A Softball
at Bemidji State Baseball Field
10:00 AM – Fosston vs Win-E-Mac
12:30 PM – Blackduck vs Bagley
3:00 PM – Winners play
5:30 PM – Losers play
North Sub-Section at East Grand Forks Stauss Park
10:00 AM – Red Lake County vs West Marshall ON KROX 9:30 AM
12:30 PM – Ada-Borup-West vs Sacred Heart ON KROX after RLC/WM game
3:00 PM – Winners Play
5:30 PM – Losers Play ON KROX RADIO after Section 8A Softball
at Bemidji State Baseball Field
10:00 AM – Fosston vs Win-E-Mac
12:30 PM – Blackduck vs Bagley
3:00 PM – Winners play
5:30 PM – Losers play
The next round will be Tuesday, June 2 at Crookston’s Jim Karn Field with games at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30.
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The Section 8AA Tournament – Second and Third Rounds are being played today (Thursday).
North at Crookston
NOON – East Grand Forks vs Park Rapids (at Jim Karn Field)
NOON – Warroad vs Thief River Falls (at UMC)
2:30 PM – Winners play
2:30 PM – Losers play
South at Perham
NOON – Perham vs Otter Tail Central
NOON – Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton vs Menahga
2:30 PM – Winners play
2:30 PM – Losers play
The next round will be on Tuesday at Perham. The championship will be next Thursday at Perham.
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After a standout couple of seasons in Fargo-Moorhead, Wadena native and 2025 American Association Pitcher of the Year Jake Dykhoff is moving on to affiliated ball.
The RedHawks transferred Dykhoff’s contract to the Baltimore Orioles organization Sunday.
Last summer, Dykhoff helped lead the best pitching staff in the American Association. His 1.63 ERA was the best in the AAPB by more than a run and bested the previous RedHawks single season record of 1.84 set by Casey Horrelbeke in 2010.
He is the only qualified RedHawks pitcher with an ERA under two since the team joined the American Association in 2011.
The former Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle went 11-4 with 81 strikeouts over 27 appearances (10 starts) last season. He was named the American Association’s best starter with a spot on the league’s Postseason All-Star Team.
Dykhoff made one start in 2026 for the RedHawks. He tossed six innings on May 16 against the Cleburne Railroaders, striking out 11.
Since making his debut in 2023, Dykhoff has compiled an overall record of 21-11 in 84 appearances (25 starts). Dykhoff struck out 212 batters over 227.1 innings of work, recording an ERA of 2.97.
Dykhoff is the 15th player since 2020 to be transferred to an MLB Organization, and the 94th overall in team history.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program will host an ID Camp August 16 for students entering grades nine through college seniors. The campers will get a chance to experience life as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
The campers will be instructed by Minnesota Crookston Soccer Head Coach Danny Burstein and Assistant Coach Breezie Davis. They will get a glimpse of campus. They will be led through drills and observed by the coaches at Minnesota Crookston, and nearby universities. The camp will include technical training, possession drills, small-sided and 11v11 games. The campers and their families will get a tour of campus and have Q&A sessions with current Minnesota Crookston players and staff. Lunch is provided. The camp will be held August 16 at the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $130 with camp being $125 plus $5 in fees. T-shirt and lunch are included.
“I am very excited to have prospective student-athletes on campus for our ID Camp,” said Head Coach Danny Burstein. It will be a great opportunity for interested players to interact with the whole team during our preseason. They will get a real feel for what it would be like to come and play soccer at UMC. This camp can be a real tool for both us and recruits to find future Golden Eagles.”
For more information on the camp and to register visit soccer.umcsportscamps.com or reach out to Head Coach Danny Burstein at burstein@umn.edu or 218-281-8420.
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JOKES
A man came home from work one day to find his wife sitting on the front porch with her bags packed. He asked her where she was going, and she replied: “I’m going to Las Vegas.”
He questioned her about why she was going, and she told him, “I just found out that I can make $400.00 a night doing what I give you for free.” He pondered that, then went into the house, packed his bags, and returned to the porch with his wife. She said, “And just where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going too!” he replied.
“Why?” She asked.
“I want to see how you are going to live on $800.00 a year”!
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A cowboy rode into town and stopped at a saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on strangers, which he was. When he finished his drink, he found his horse had been stolen.
He goes back into the bar, handily flips his gun into the air, catches it above his head without even looking and fires a shot into the ceiling.
“WHICH ONE OF YOU SIDEWINDERS STOLE MY HORSE?” he yelled with surprising forcefulness. No one answered.
“ALL RIGHT, I’M GONNA HAVE ANOTHER BEER, AND IF MY HOSS AIN’T BACK OUTSIDE BY THE TIME I FINISH, I’M GONNA DO WHAT I DUN IN TEXAS! AND I DON’T LIKE TO HAVE TO DO WHAT I DUN IN TEXAS!”
Some of the locals shifted restlessly. He had another beer, walked outside, and his horse is back! He saddles up and starts to ride out of town. The bartender wanders out of the bar and asks, “Say partner, before you go…what happened in Texas?”
The cowboy turned back and said, “I had to walk home.”
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A woman from New York was driving through a remote part of Arizona when her car broke down. An American Indian on horseback came along and offered her a ride to a nearby town. She climbed up behind him on the horse and they rode off.
The ride was uneventful, except that every few minutes the Indian would let out a ‘Ye-e-e-e-h-a-a-a-a’ so loud that it echoed from the surrounding hills.
When they arrived in town, he let her off at the local service station, yelled one final ‘Ye-e-e-e-h-a-a-a-a!’ and rode off.
‘What did you do to get that Indian so excited?’ asked the service-station attendant.
‘Nothing,’ the woman answered. ‘I merely sat behind him on the horse, put my arms around his waist, and held onto the saddle horn so I wouldn’t fall off.’
‘Lady,’ the attendant said, ‘Indians don’t use saddles.
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A fire started on some grasslands near a farm. The county fire department was called to put out the fire. The fire was more than the county fire department could handle. Someone suggested that a nearby volunteer bunch be called. Despite some doubt that the volunteer outfit would be of any assistance, the call was made.
The volunteers arrived in a dilapidated old fire truck. They rumbled straight towards the fire, drove right into the middle of the flames, and stopped! The firemen jumped off the truck and frantically started spraying water in all directions. Soon, they had snuffed out the center of the fire, breaking the blaze into two easily controlled parts.
Watching all this, the farmer was so impressed with the volunteer fire department’s work and was so grateful that his farm had been spared that right there on the spot, he presented the volunteers with a check for $1,000. A local news reporter asked the volunteer fire captain what the department planned to do with the funds.
“That ought to be obvious,” he responded, wiping ashes off his coat. “The first thing we’re gonna do is get the brakes fixed on our fire truck!”
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Parker Kelly is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Colton Weiland is an assistant Pirate Wrestling Coach
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is Lance Corporal in the Marines.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com..
